Clothes-holder



A. PARKIN. CLOTHES HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16' I916.

l 1 95,49 6 Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

ALFRED PABKIN, OF LOMA, COLORADO.

CLOTHES-HOLDER.

Li ri illti.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Application filed March 16, 1916. Serial No. 84,634.

To (ZZZ whom it may camera.

Be it known that l, ALFRED PARKIN, a lit-men oi the United States, residing at Lorna, in th county of Mesa, State of Colorado ha ve invented certain new and useful lmproreineuts in Clcthesllolders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

lcar, and exact description of the invensuch as will enable others skilled in mart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in clothes holders, and particularly to devices for holding clothes on clothes lines.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and ellicient device of this character which is adapted to be mounted on the clothes line and which is capable of movement from one end of the line to the other so as to be brought within reach of the ends of an article which is to be sus pended thereby.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which can be quickly and easily adjusted for clamping engagement with articles of different thicknesses, so that the thinner articles will be as firmly held as the thicker articles.

Gther objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved clothes holder or clothes pin, shown in connection with a clothes line; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the wame, the clothes line being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a top plan view; and Fig. at is a section on the line 4 lof Fig. 3, the clothes line being removed.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, the device consists of a pair of members A and B, the constructions of which are practically identical. Each of the members is formed of a single length of wire bent intermediate its length to form closed triangular loop 10, the base of which is disposed at the bottom and the ends at the apex of the triangle, where they are twisted together as shown at 11. An opening or eye 12 is formed above the twisted portion 11, and then the wires are again twisted together, as at 13. From thence the ends of the wire are bowed away from each other to form a circular loop 14 which receives thercthrough the clothes line 15. The terminals of the wire are extended laterally in parallel relation, and above the clothes line as clearly indicated at 16. The description, thus far, applies to both the members i and B with the exception of the portion 12. In the member A the eye 12 is square in cross section to receive the squared portion of the shank of the bolt 17, which is passed through this eye and the eye 12 of the member B. On the other end of the bolt, outwardly of the member A is .ngaged a nut 18. Encircling the bolt, and disposed between the portions 12 and 1:2 is a coil spring 19, the purpose of which will appear later. Disposed between the upper ends of the members A and B, and above the line, is a coil spring 20, the ends of which receive the laterally directed terminals 16. This spring is larger in diameter and formed from heavier gaged wire than the spring 19, its purpose being to spread. apart the upper portions of. the members to cause the lower portions, or parts below the bolt, to engage together for gripping relation with an article to be suspended on the line. l/Vhen thin articles are to be suspended, the nut is turned inwardly from its position in Fig. 1, so as to force the members A and B toward each other, and against the tension of the spring 19. This also increases the tension of the spring 20 so that the lower ends of the members A and B would get a firmer grip on the article. For larger or thicker articles, such as quilts and the like, the nut is moved outwardly to the position of Fig. 1, so as to permit the members A and B to move away from each other, thus increasing the space between the members, below the bolt. The spring 20, when the device is adjusted for thick articles, is of si'li'licient strength to firmly grip them. The fact that the device is mounted on the line permits of the same being moved along the line for gripping wider or narrower articles.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. A clothes pin comprising a pair of members each formed from a single length of wire, and each comprising a lower triangular loop portion forming one of the jaws of the pin, an upper loop portion for the reception of a clothes line, an intermediate eye portion, twisted portions connecting the eye portion respectively with the upper and lower loop portions, inwardly extending portions carried by the upper loops, a reell silient spreading element supported by the said inwardly extending portion, a bolt disposed through the eye portions of each of the members and carrying on one end an adjusting nut, and a resilient element carried by the bolt between the eye portions.

2. A clothes pin comprising a pair of jaw members, a connecting member upon which the jaw members are rockingly mounted, a helical spring disposed upon the connecting member and bearing with its ends against the jaws to hold the corresponding port-ions yieldably in spaced relation and means disposed between the jaw members at one side of the connecting member for holding the jaws yieldably in clamping relation.

3. A clothes pin comprising a pair of jaw members having gripping jaws at one end and having extensions at their opposite ends directed toward each other, a connection between the jaw members upon which they are rockingly mounted, a helical spring disposed upon the connecting member and bearing against the jaw members and adapted to hold corresponding portions of the jaw members yieldably in spaced relation, and a helical spring having its end portions embracing said parts ofthe jaw members that are directed toward each other and adapted to hold the clamping jaws yieldably in clamping relation.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED PARKIN. lVitnesses:

WVILLIAM E. BELT, CHARLES J. NUGENT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents. Washington, D. C. 

